Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-05-07
SOUTH STATE RaMsLEs.
A YanktOnian Abroad In the Land of
Di1ie-F1orida ana Its Oranges and
Chattanooga the Boomer.

s Ak2tAtUbluA 4uEOau III tnG EIlDu OF
Di1ie-FlOrida ana Its Oranges and
Chattanooga the Boomer.
Chattanooga, Tenn, May 2-Corres-
pondence Press and Dakotaian-Aftssr q
few weeks OF s~ojonrn at my frontier place
in Florida, clearing land and planting
an additional grove of young orange
trees and other fruits, I have emerged
from retirement and got out of the pine
woods into the more active scenes OF
city life. Palatks was the first town
of consequence / visited. Here every
body seemed to feel blue. They real
lied that they were too.far north Tor the
best success in Florida horticulture.
Also the northern tourists seemed to
have given them the go-by TO some ex-
tent; for which they hate California and
the Pacific railroads. But the town
was very beautiful with its streets Of
fine brick stores, its great artesian
wells, its wc-ser scenery and
Its magnificent gardens. Here J stared
with i%ncrednlous surprise at the wil1
orange shade trees along the walks,
which had borne their rich looking but
acrid sour bitter oranges I'LL winter, and
now were turning them back from from
golden yellow to deep green again. The
small new set fruit and the large last
year's crop we're becoming the same
color, owing to the rapid advance OF
warm growing weather.
Next to st. Augustine, the most per-
|petually described and written of place
IN America. In n day I had seen and
done ell / cared for here, and counted
the time well spent. The ruins we've still
smoking where the late fire wiped out q
great hotel, large area of business
houses. the precious cid Spanish cathe.
dral, the so-oalled .'slave marAet.n and
other important features of the city. The
old fort was closed to the public because
OF the 400 Apaches whose tents cover
its ramparts and whose savage br.ts
range all about the vicinity. But In
dian filth and ferocity has no attractions
for me, and / would not ask for q pass to
see the historic dungeons of the interior,
The exterior walls, crusted below high
tide mark with oysters thicker than
the leaves on q tree, and the living
ouriesItles along the sea wall and the
beach, repaid me for some strolling
about. a trip in q large sail boat out
to he north beach where the waves o.
the broad Atlantic broke necessarily and
washed up fine sea shells was the mos,
inspiring and memorable hour of my
one days solourn. A group of big por-
poises We're jumping close to the shore
The water was warm and enticing for &
bath. but l could only drink heartily OF
its very briny waves, (Rithcut lowering
them perceptibly) and hurry back witt
my sack of shells.
Ems next day was spent in jackson
vile pcrohasing desirable marine
curiosities for o few northern friends
who had ordered them. Dr., Dodge
has not resided there for a year past
Mrs. Dodge. formerly Sweetser) had
recently left the city. for Los Angeles
CAL, where she intends keeping a hote
for the next year. or two.
Some time ago I went to Orlando 70,
o few days. Found Mr.. r. w. Hussey
as usual one of the most active business
men in the city. He has erected abon,
seventy-fve dwellings, end bushes,
houses since he went there, and is &C.
counted the most reliable contractor il
the business. He is also largely inter
ested in town lot investments in three Of
more different places, as we'll as wiIs
lands and some fine orange groves wortt
several thousands. Mr.. George u. Hug
sey is engaged in trade at the city mar
ket house.
1t seemed good to see John Thorntos
working steadily at good wages, and
residing in q much better home than j
had seen him lave before, il the three
different places where he and / hays
lived near together. He bought q hand.
some lst in orlando, ION which happened
to be ten large bearing orange tress.a
n erected . good mouse since last Sep.
tember. Mr.. Thornton is better suited
now, as to climate. for sutnmer and
winter, as to work. wages and GENERA,
prospects, than he has been for several